Faculty Directory

Biography

Dr. Steve Midson received both his bachelor of metallurgy (B.Met.) and PhD in metallurgy degrees from the University of Sheffield (in the UK). He moved to the USA in the 1980s, and initially worked at corporate R&D centers for two Fortune 500 companies, focusing on solidification, liquid metal processing and metal casting (specifically high pressure die casting type processes). During the late 1990s and 2000s, Steve ran two small-business casting companies in Colorado, performing research and producing components from aluminum and copper alloys by die casting and semi-solid casting. In 2004, Steve founded an engineering services company (The Midson Group). Steve joined the Colorado School of Mines in 2013 as a Research Professor, where his research focuses on metal casting processes, PVD coatings, CT scanning, and additive manufacturing (3D printing). Within Mines, Steve is Director of Industry Relations for an industry-university research center, the Alliance for the Development of Additive Processing Technologies (ADAPT).

Steve is very active with the North American Die Casting Association, where he chairs their Die Materials Committee, and is active on their R&D Committee. He is also a member of the International Scientific Committee for Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, an entity that organizes bi-annual international conferences on semi-solid casting. In addition, Steve is a member of the American Foundry Society, ASM International, and ASTM International.

Education

Ph.D. (Metallurgy) – Sheffield University, UK, 1983

B.Met. (Metallurgy) – Sheffield University, UK, 1979

Research

• Casting of a range of metals and alloys, including aluminum, magnesium, zinc, copper, and steels
• New technologies relating to die casting
• Semi-solid casting of high integrity components
• CT scanning of metals
• Additive manufacturing

Publications

• Journals and Magazines
  1. Stephen Midson, “Using Micro-CT Scanning to Quantitative Characterize Porosity in High Pressure Die Castings and Semi-Solid Castings”, submitted for publication in Solid State Phenomena, 2021
  2. Wenying Qu, Daquan Li,  Zhipeng Guo, Min Luo, Fan Zhang, Stephen P. Midson, Xiaogang Hu, Yongzhong Zhang, “Using the Phase Field Method to Investigate Microstructural Evolution of Semi-Solid 357.0 Slurries”, Solid State Phenomena, Vol. 285, 2019, pp 367-372
  3. Yi Bing Zhu & Stephen Midson, “The Status of Magnesium Injection Molding in China”, Solid State Phenomena, Vol. 285, 2019, pp 436-440
  4. Longfei Li, Daquan Li, Luo Min, Yong Zhong Zhang, Yong Lin Kang, Qiang Zhu, Stephen Midson, “Influence of Rare Earth Additions on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al7Si0.3Mg Alloys Processed by Semi-Solid Die Casting and Gravity Die Casting”, Solid State Phenomena, Vol. 285, 2019, pp 69-74
  5. Hong Zhang, Daquan Li, Wenying Qu, Fan Zhang, Min Luo, Stephen Midson, Qiang Zhu, “Effect of Primary α-Al Morphology in Slurry on Segregation during 357 Semi-Solid Die Casting” Solid State Phenomena, Vol. 285, 2019, pp 398-402
  6. Hai Yue Zhao, Daquan Li, Min Luo, Stephen Midson, Qiang Zhu. “Impact of Intensification Pressure and Grain Refiner on the Hot Tearing Susceptibility of a Semi-Solid Cast Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy”, Solid State Phenomena, Vol. 285, 2019, 283-289
  7. Hong-Xing Lu, Qiang Zhu, Stephen P. Midson, Wen-Ying Qu, Fan Zhang, Da-Quan Li, “Forming conditions of blisters during solution heat treatment of Al–Si alloy semi-solid die castings”,  Rare Met, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-018-1085-z
  8. Longfei Li, Shouxun Ji, Qiang Zhu, Yun Wang, Xixi Dong, Wenchao Yang, Stephen Midson, and Yonglin Kang, “Effect of Zn Concentration on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-Mg-Si-Zn Alloys Processed by Gravity Die Casting”, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, Vol. 49A, 2018, 324
  9. X.G. Hua, Q. Zhu, S.P. Midson, H.V. Atkinson, H.B. Dong, F. Zhang, Y.L. Kang, “Blistering in semi-solid die casting of aluminium alloys and its avoidance”, Acta Materialia, 124, 2017, 446-455
  10. B. Wang, G.R. Bourne, A.L. Korenyi-Both, A. Monroe, S.P. Midson and M.J. Kaufman “Method to evaluate the adhesion behavior of aluminum-based alloys on various materials and coatings for lube-free die casting”, Journal of Materials Processing Technology 237, 2016, 386-393
  11. Xiaogang Hu, Qiang Zhu, Hongxing Lu, Fan Zhang, Daquan Li, Stephen Midson, “Microstructural evolution and thixoformability of semi-solid aluminum 319s alloy during re-melting”, Journal of Alloys and Compounds 649, 2016, 204-210
  12. XG Hu, F Zhang, YF He, S Midson, Q Zhu, “Experimental study and numerical simulation on the blistering defect during thixocasting”, Solid State Phenomena 217, 2015, 144-150
  13. G. Wallace, A.P. Jackson, Stephen Midson, Qiang Zhu, “High-quality aluminum turbocharger impellers produced by thixocasting”, Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China 20 (9), 2010, 1786-1791
  14. Andrew Jackson, Greg Wallace, Stephen Midson, “Semi-Solid Casting of Aluminum Turbocharger Impellers”, Advanced Materials and Processes 168(4), 2010, 19-22

  Books and Book Chapters

  1. Stephen P. Midson, “Semisolid Metal Casting”, in ASM Handbook, Volume 2A: Aluminum Science and Technology, Eds: Kevin Anderson, John Weritz, and Gil Kaufman, ASM International, 2018
  2. Stephen Midson, “Commercial Applications of Semi-Solid Metal Processing”, in Semi-Solid Processing of Aluminum Alloys, by Shahrooz Nafisi and Reza Ghomashchi, Pub: Springer, 2016
  3. Scott Kirkman & Steve Midson, “Shrinkage Porosity: A Guide to Correcting the Problem” Pub: North American Die Casting Association, Publication No. 518D, 2015
  4. D. Schwam & S. Midson, Extending Die Life for Aluminum Die Casting, Pub: North American Die Casting Association, Publication No. 308, 2009

  Conference Proceedings

• 1. Danielle M. Barna, Dawson Tong, Branden Kappes, Stephen Midson & Douglas Nychka, “Using Sphericity Calculations to Identify the Source of Porosity in Aluminum Castings”, NADCA 2020 Die Casting Congress, paper number T20-022
  2. Itamar Brill, Dawson Tong, Branden Kappes and Stephen Midson, “Using Micro-CT Scanning to Characterize Porosity in Aluminum Die Castings”, NADCA 2019 Congress, paper number T19-081
  3. Itamar Brill, Branden Kappes and Stephen Midson, “An Initial Evaluation of CT Scanning for Measuring and Characterizing Porosity in Aluminum Die Castings”, NADCA 2018 Congress, paper number T18-083
  4. B. Wang, J. Song, A. Monroe, A.L. Korenyi-Both, S.P. Midson and M.J. Kaufman, “Results from a Series of Plant Trials to Evaluate the Impact of PVD Processed AlCrN Thin-Film Die Coatings to Minimize Die Lubrication”, North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) 2017 Transactions
  5. B. Wang, G.R. Bourne, A.L. Korenyi-Both, S.P. Midson and M.J. Kaufman, “An investigation of the use of PVD die coatings to minimize or eliminate lubrication during high pressure die casting”, North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) 2016 Transactions
  6. S.P. Midson, C.A. Dallmann & J.A. Brennan, “T6 Heat Treating of Strontium Modified, Low-Iron Conventional Die Castings”, North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) 2015 Transactions
  7. S Midson, Y He, X Hu, D Li, F Zhang, Q Zhu, “Impact of section thickness on the microstructure and mechanical properties of semi-solid castings”, Shape Casting: 5th International Symposium, Eds: Murat Tiryakioḡlu, John Campbell, Glenn Edwin Byczynski, Pub: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, 2014, 177-184
  8. G. Wallace, A.P. Jackson. S. Midson, “Novel Method for Casting High Quality Aluminum Turbocharger Impellers”, SAE World Congress, 2010, paper no. 2010-01-0655
  9. D.T. Peters, J.G. Cowie, E.F. Brush and S. P. Midson, “Use of High Temperature Die Materials and Hot Dies for High Pressure Die Casting Pure Copper and Copper Alloys”, North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) 2002 Transactions
  10. S.P. Midson, H.H. Nicholas, R.A. Nichting & K.P. Young, “Semi-Solid Forming High Temperature Alloys”, 2nd Int. Conf. On Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, MIT, 1992

Awards & Honors

• Co-authored more than 100 technical papers, numerous short books and several book chapters
• Chair of the Die Materials Committee and member of the R&D Committee, North American Die Casting Association
• Instructor of the Year award, North American Die Casting Association, 2014, 2019
• Member of Semi-Solid Processing International Scientific Committee, 2008 to present
• Committee Member of the Year award, North American Die Casting Association, 2011
• Excellence in Oral Presentation award, Soc. of Automotive Engineers World Congress, 2003
• Co-author, best paper (copper division), American Foundry Society National Congress, 2002
• Co-organizer of 15th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites – Shenzhen, China, October 22-24, 2018
• Co-organizer of 14th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites – Salt Lake City, UT, Oct. 23-27, 2016
• Co-organizer of 5th International Conference on Semi-Solid Processing of Alloys and Composites – Golden, CO, 1998, Co-editor of conference proceedings
• Sheffield University Brunton Medal for metallurgical research, 1983

Additional Information

Appointments

2013 – present, Research Professor, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

2019 – present, Director of Industry Relations, The Alliance for the Development of Additive Processing Technologies (ADAPT), Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

2004 – present, President, The Midson Group, Inc., Denver, CO

2018 – 2019, Senior Technical Advisor, Shenzhen Silver Basis Die Casting, Shenzhen, China

2013 – 2018, Managing Director, Center for Advanced Non-Ferrous Structural Alloys, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

2012 – 2017, Senior Technical Advisor, General Research Institute for Non-Ferrous Metals, Beijing, China

2004 – 2009, Vice President, Aluminum Complex Components, Denver, CO

1996 – 2004, Various positions including VP & General Manager, Formcast, Denver, CO

1994 – 1996, Dir. of Research and Technology, North American Die Casting Assoc., Rosemont, IL

1988 – 1994, Group Leader, AMAX R&D Center, Golden, CO

1983 – 1988, Research Scientist, Olin Corporation Metals Research Laboratories, New Haven, CT